Sonia against any concessions to VHP

Urging the Vajpayee government not to make any concessions to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said she did not favour the government making any 'bargain' with the Sangh Parivar outfit on the Ram temple issue.

"I do not believe in bargains," Gandhi said.

VHP had said on Saturday it was willing to consider postponing its plans to construct temple from March 15 if the government or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh gave it a written assurance that worshipping of pillars would be allowed on the acquired land in Ayodhya within three months.

Asked if she foresaw the possibility of mid-term elections in view of the prevailing situation in the country, Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said
"I am not an astrologer. I don't foresee things."

She said her party was 'not happy' with the way the Gujarat government handled the situation following the Godhra carnage.

The government must take 'effective steps' to deploy the army in areas, which have been hit by riots, she added.